Terrorists are actively pulling in the military equipment and manpower to the Donetsk airport and Mariupol: Ukrainian soldiers are repulsing all attacks. MAP

The situation in the anti-terrorist operation area tends to deteriorate.

"The number and intensity of the terrorists' attacks on the ATO forces' positions and residential neighborhoods of the cities and villages have significantly increased. The Ukrainian military are reflecting militants' attacks inflicting heavy losses of manpower and equipment. The situation at the Donetsk airport, where the terrorists are actively pulling in the military equipment and manpower, is especially difficult. The equipment and weapons' relocation towards Mariupol was also registered," he said.

"The terrorists have massively used MLRS BM-21 Grads besides artillery and mortars, ignoring the threat to the local residents' lives. The direct hit in a private house from MLRS has killed two boys, brothers of 7 and 16. Their eight-year-old sister was delivered to the city hospital with wounds. The terrorists' attacks have also resulted in casualties among civilians in the cities and villages of Marinka, Krasnohorivka and Dzerzhynsk. The militants have also committed another shelling of the Debaltseve city today at about 7:45 a.m. From 15 to 20 projectiles exploded in the center of the city injuring at least 10 people including an eight-year-old girl and her mother," Lysenko said.

The use of the roads connecting Novoazovsk, Krasnoarmiisk, Talakivka and Mariupol was temporarily restricted due to the massive mortar shelling by the terrorists, committed from 6:00 to 7:05 p.m.

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